Daniel c



(No Model.)

D. G. OTIS.

FURNITURE GASTER.

No. 350,636. Patented 001;. 12, 1886.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STAT S DANIEL O. OTIS, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

FURNITURE-(EASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,636, dated October Application filedJanuary 9, 1856. Serial No. 18 ,071. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL (3. OTIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have i11- vented certain Improvements in Furniture Casters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates most particularly to furniture casters which have spindles that project into the wood and are capable of rotation therein; and the main or principal object of my invention is to provide a convenient means of securing the metal spindle of the caster in the wood, so that the caster cannot drop off from the furniture or be readily detached, and yet leaving the spindle free to rotate in thehole or socket in the furniture, as it must where the spindle is attached rigidly to the caster-frame.

To this end my invention consists, essentially, in providing the metal spindle with a head or linchpin on its end and mounting it rotatively in a cylindricallyor slightly conical hub made from hard wood or other similar non-metallic material. This hub may be supplied to the ordinary caster, and when so provided the caster forms an improved article of manufacture. only necessary to bore a hole in the wood to fit the hub 011 the spindle and drive the hub in tightly, gluing itin, ifnecessary. The hub then forms, practically, a part of the wood of the furniture, and the spindle rotates in the hub, but cannot escape because of the head or linchpin.

Another feature of my invention consists in a metallic end cap for the hub, which is interposed between the hub and the caster-frame and takes the lateral strain.

All of the above will be hereinafter fully described, and the novel features carefully defined in the claims.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved caster as applied, the plane of the section being indicated by line 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan of the caster detached. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spindle-hub detached. Fig. 4 is asimilar viewof the metallic end cap. Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modification which will be hereinafter described.

To apply such a caster it is In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the caster provided with two wheels arranged tandem; but I do not claim this feature of construction, nor do I limit myself to it, as it is not essential to the perfect operation of my improved caster.

A represents the metal frame ot'a well-known construction of caster; B, the main wheel or roller mounted rotatively therein. 13 is thesupplementary or bicycle wheel, also mounted in frame A, and O is the vertical spindle or axis, of metal, and, as herein shown, mounted in the frame A. These features are common to this style of caster. On the spindle G, and rotatively mounted thereon, is a hub, D, made of hard wood, and usually of cylindrical form.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4, E

'is a cap-washer or end cap, of metal, and usually stamped from sheet metal, havinga hole, a, for the passage of the spindle, and a turnedup marginal flange, I), which is made to 'take over the sides of the hub D when the washer is applied to the hub, as seen in Fig. 1. This washer serves to form a metallic bearing for the crown of the caster frame, beinginterposed between the latter and the hub fitting both the spindle and the end of the hub closely ittends to relieve the wood of the hub from the lateral pressure of the spindle. If the hub D be made of very hard and tough wood, this washer may be dispensed with; but I prefer to employ it in all cases. After the hub has been placed on the spindle, a head, 0, is formed on the spindle, and this may be conveniently effected by first placing a washer, (Z, on the end of the hub, and then riveting the end of the spindle down, as shown in Fig. 1. The caster constructed as described above is then ready for sale and use. I give the hub D, for convenience, a diameter corresponding to that of some regular size of boring or anger bit, taking care that the hub shall fit tightly in the hole bored by the bit.

1n fitting my improved caster to furnitureas to the leg of a chair, for example-a hole of the proper diameter and depth is bored in the wood of the leg to form a socket, and the hub driven in. Glue may be applied to the hub before it is driven, if it be desired to fit it permanently.

In Fig. 1, X represents the leg or other part having the socket to receive the caster. Wood being in contact with wood, a caster mounted D, and byin this way will stand any ordinary strain or wear without becoming loose or falling out. It will be seen that the hub D becomes prac tically a part of the leg X, and the spindle, although it is rotatively mounted in the hub, or loose therein, cannot come out by reason of the head and washer on its inner end. I may say that the addition of the wooden hub does not appreciably increase the cost of the caster.

In Fi 5 I have shown a modification in which. the spindle is formed integrally with the frame of the caster. In this case the head a is primarily formed on the spindle. The washer E, in this construction, has the flange I) turned up around the spindle. The wheel B is omitted in this view.

In case the spindle is fixed in or is formed with the caster-frame, and has the head 0 formed primarily thereon, I may split the hub so that it can be applied. After the halves are applied to the spindle, they may be glued together, so as to form a whole. This afterglning, however, is not absolutely essential.

In lieu of a head, 0, on the end of the spindle to prevent it from being drawn out through the hub, a cross-pin like a linchpin, may be employed. The heading of the spindle is, however, the more economical mode of forming a stop to prevent the escape of the spindle.

It will be seen that by mounting the supplementary wheclB' in the prolongation of the spindle-axis it will take a portion of the weight off from the main wheel B, and will then. relieve the caster frame and spindle from the oblique strain that all ordinary panto graph casters are subject to. The lateral pressure of the spindle in the hub will also be practically removed.

integrally with the oastei'd'raine,

My invention avoids the use of screws entirely.

I am aware that it is not new to recess the opposite sides of a non-rotative caster-spindle, to secure strips of wood in these recesses, and then to glue the metal spindle so provided into the socket in the. furniture. This construction does not provide for the rotation of the spindle, and is necessarily limited to that class of casters where the spindle is rotativel y mountedin the caster-frame. According to my invention it is immaterial whether the spindle is fixed in the caster-frame orniounted rotatively therein. The spindle may be cast as shown in Fig. 5.

Having claim- 1. As animproved article of manufacture, a caster having rotatively mounted on its metal spindle a hub made of wood or other like firm material, as specified, the said spindle being provided with a stop at its end to preventit from escaping from thehub, asset forth. 2. As an improved article of manufacture, a caster having on its metal spindle a rotatively-mounted hub made of wood or other similar non-metallic substance, which hub is retained in place on the spindle, as described, and isprovidedwitha metallic flanged washer, E, on its end adjacent to the caster'frame, substantially as described. I

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

thus described my invention, I

DANIEL G. OTIS. iVitnesses:

HENRY CONNELT, ARTHUR O. FRAsne. 

